Matthew 26:41 “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.”

Be Prepared!

Since 1907 this has been the motto of the scout movement. All Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts make it their duty to be prepared in mind and body to know the right thing to do, to be willing to act on it, and to be physically fit to carry out the action when necessary.

None of our family, aside from my brief stint with the Brownies in elementary school, has been a scout member. Even so, this motto is one that we should all consider making part of our life strategy.

Jesus knew that His time on earth was short. He understood what the next few hours would hold for Him – the betrayal, the ridicule, the pain, the torture, and the weight of the world’s sin. Death on a rugged cross was why He had come to earth and His final hour was drawing near.

During the last Passover supper, Jesus prepared His disciples with much information regarding what was ahead. He acted out a picture of the purpose of His death by washing their feet. He had come not to be served, but to serve and give His life a ransom for many.

He comforted them with the promise of the Holy Spirit Who would give them power and lead them into all truth.

He encouraged them by explaining how they could bear much spiritual fruit by remaining in the vine. By abiding in Christ and letting His words abide in them they could ask whatever they needed and it would be done.

He warned them of rejection and tribulation but reminded them that He had overcome the world.

Finally, He prayed that God would not take them out of the world but keep them from the evil one.

All of this Jesus did so that His disciples would BE PREPARED for what lay ahead.

Yet, even this was not enough. There was something they needed to do.

While in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus went away by Himself to pray. His soul was deeply grieved over all that was about to occur. He asked His disciples to keep watch with Him, but they could not keep their eyelids open. The warmth of the evening and the activity of the day weakened their stamina and soon there were snores echoing throughout the otherwise quiet sanctuary.

Jesus, heavy with grief, returned, awakened them from their slumber, and urgently imparted some important advice. He knew what was coming and how crucial their preparation of mind and body would be when temptation crept up on them. At the moment of decision His previous teaching and preparation would be forgotten if they had not prepared their minds and bodies through prayer. He said,

“Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation.”

The men groggily listened to His warning, but then rolled over and continued snoring. The hour of Jesus’s betrayal and suffering was at hand but these followers were not ready for what lay ahead. Though their spirit might have been willing had they understood, their exhausted flesh was weak.

Later we read that all of them deserted their Master in His greatest hour of need. Peter, who boasted of loyalty, went as far as to vehemently deny that he even knew Jesus. How sad they all were when they realized that their lack of preparation caused them to do the wrong thing.

What a lesson this is for us! The Scout Motto, while a good life strategy, is also necessary spiritually to protect us from all temptation. Unlike Jesus, we do not know what a day holds. We must keep watching and praying so that we can withstand whatever comes across our path.

I am glad Jesus was prepared to suffer and die for my sins and yours.

Obey the instructions He gave His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. Make it your motto and duty to always BE PREPARED in mind and body to know the right thing to do, to be willing to act on it, and to be physically fit to carry out the action when necessary.

2 Timothy 2:22 “Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”

Split-second decisions often cause unpleasant consequences. We found this out the hard way recently.

Over Thanksgiving our family made a trip to Chicago to visit Aunt Catherine and Uncle Jesse. On the way there we drove on an Illinois Toll Road. Approaching the toll booth, we weaved our way through the traffic and slid into one of the lanes to pay. As we inched our way forward, we suddenly realized that there was no one in the booth. In the midst of the traffic lines, we had chosen the wrong lane – the one where people with prepaid cards were able to slip through quickly.

Since we only had cash, there was nothing we could do but drive on through and hope for the best. Time passed and soon after returning home we received an official letter from the state of Illinois. Dad groaned as he slit the seal and pulled out notice of a fine in the amount of $64. Bummer!

A split-second wrong decision cost us at least ten times what the original payment would have been. If we had been prepared as we approached the exit, we could have chosen our lane more carefully and avoided a big penalty.

Temptation is something that we all face on a regular basis. God tells us that we should flee from youthful lusts and instead pursue righteous, faith, love, and peace. But sometimes temptations come up on us quickly. If we are not prepared it is easy to make a split second decision that can end badly.

That is why it is important to plan ahead. Think about the things that are regular problem areas for you and decide how you will handle yourself as an opportunity to sin presents itself.

If you continually find yourself drawn to inappropriate pictures or websites on the computer, put safeguards on it or have an accountability partner to help keep your eyes pure.

If you struggle with foolish talk or unwholesome language, prepare a plan for extricating yourself from situations that might lead to these types of meaningless conversations or quarrels.

Think about what you will do if you find yourself in a compromising situation with the opposite sex. Before the fires of passion take over, have a plan to make a fast exit and save yourself many tears and much pain.

Consider the consequences of your sin beforehand so that when faced with your weak area, your split-second decision will be guided by wisdom instead of instinct.

If you take the time to plan out your response to difficult situations ahead of time, the chances of making a painful split second decision is less likely. You will be thankful you were ready to make good and godly choices that do not lead to regret.

I can tell you one thing – the next time we go to see Aunt Catherine and Uncle Jesse, we are going to plan ahead. On approaching the toll booth we will drive more slowly, read the signs, and make sure we get in the right lane. That way we won’t have to pay the price of a quick, split-second decision.

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”

It is scary how quickly things can creep up on us. We are so often unaware of dangerous temptations lurking about until it is too late. This is why we need to always be on our guard.

Today I rode my bike to work. When I was on my way home, the bike path was completely free and clear as I pedaled along, leisurely engaged in my thoughts. When I got to the intersection where I needed to turn onto our road, a booming voice behind me suddenly erupted, “I’m behind you!” My heart lurched in my chest, the bike wobbled, and I almost fell to the ground.

Usually oncoming bikers give a little bit of warning, but this person silently approached like a cat on a mouse and didn’t make his presence known until he was directly behind me. I have no idea how long he was there, but it certainly was a surprise. I’m sure my loud outburst startled him, too.

It caused me to think of today’s Bible verse, “Let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.” How often we feel that we are completely protected when it comes to temptation. There are certain things that no one ever believes will cause them to fall, but it is dangerous to assume that your path is free and clear. God’s word says that all temptation is fair game and can sneak up on anyone who is not paying attention.

Thankfully, God is faithful. He promises to keep His children from being tempted beyond what they are able to endure. He will always provide a way to escape if we will only take it. Often the best way to withstand is to RUN! Don’t stick around when confronted with a bad idea. Protect yourself by choosing good friends who will warn you if they see any danger approaching. When an ungodly thought crosses the mind, immediately squelch it by replacing it with wholesome thoughts. When an inappropriate idea tickles the brain, think of the consequences, submit to God’s way, and resist the devil. If you do this, he will turn and ride the other direction.

Above all, always be prepared and alert. Don’t ride through life mindlessly pedaling along while thinking you are free and clear. As soon as you do, an unthinkable temptation will silently overtake you. Before you know it your heart will be pounding, your will-power will start shaking, and you just may fall off your bike.

Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”

Guarding your heart must be an intentional choice. In a world overflowing with temptations it is very important to put safeguards in place to protect the core of all your decisions and values. If you don’t you are at a very great risk for regret and difficult consequences.

The other day I was reading in my favorite rocking chair while a cool breeze fluttered in through the open window. Usually this would not be a problem but because Cherokee, our German Shepherd, had tried to get my attention through the window one day it did not have a screen. Since we do not have air conditioning, I decided that it would be okay to open the window anyway. Other than a few bugs here and there, no problems had occurred – until this day.

I was interrupted from my novel by a whoosh near my ear. I jumped up as I realized a confused sparrow had flown through the open window and was frantically circling the room. I called for Nathan and we shut all the living room doors so that the scared bird wouldn’t fly into another area of the house. We held our breath while we waited to see if he would break anything during his desperate attempts to find the exit.

Finally, I opened the top half of the tall farmhouse window. After making a final pass around the room our little intruder darted through the opening and escaped to the very top of the tall tree in the yard. I slammed the window shut and determined not to open it again – no matter how hot it is – until we could replace our much needed screen.

Why, when we are often so careful with somewhat insignificant things like screenless windows, do we leave our heart wide open for all sorts of temptations to fly in? What enters our heart by way of our eyes and ears can do irreparable damage. Thoughts turn into beliefs, and beliefs turn into actions. Before you know it, all the values you hold dear are shattered and only heartache is left lying all around.

The wise writer of Proverbs advises, “Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” These are some important ways to guard your heart.

If you keep the screens on your heart by choosing to watch wholesome movies, making appropriate friends, listening to uplifting music, and going to respectable places, then you will lessen the likelihood of a stray temptation flying into your heart. This is the way of wisdom and those who follow it will not be disappointed.

You never know when a misdirected sparrow might try to fly through an open window. Above all else keep your screens repaired and guard your heart carefully. It is the wellspring of life!

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be equipped for every good work.”

The more I learn about human nature, the more I realize that so many of us are saddled with a personality that is insecure. Insecurity comes in many forms and is disguised by many
actions and attitudes.

Some insecure people make it obvious as they act very unsure of themselves. They have trouble making decisions or being alone so they find others who are stronger and cling to them. But others who have similar struggles internally find a cover in over-exerting themselves in the very areas that plague them.

These insecure people will only feel comfortable in a situation if they have control in that area. This struggle for power often manifests itself in very unpleasant ways. Frustration and anger at circumstances and people who don’t comply with your way of doing things often get out of hand. This need for control that is fueled by internal struggle often alienates others, which in turn causes the downward spiral of insecurity to rotate faster. More emotion and feelings of unworthiness rise to the surface, creating even more negative behavior.

As I have peeled back the layers of my own emotions, I have come to the conclusion that much of what I experience are just secondary emotions that stem from the root problem of my insecurity. When I have exploded in anger at an unsuspecting victim or have fought desperately for my way in a particular situation, I could often trace these reactions to an area of my life where I felt weak.

Why did I become angry and defensive when a loved one questioned my actions? It was because I thought someone was questioning my worth and my ability to make good decisions. Though this was not at all my friend’s intention, this was how I perceived it. Their loving inquiry struck at the deepest part of my insecurity and I lashed out to protect myself.

Those who are truly secure do not feel the need to protect themselves. They do not always need to be in control. They have the self-confidence to allow others to “win” at times and can rejoice when their friends experience a victory. They recognize that someone else’s leadership or authority does not threaten who they are or their capabilities as a person. They are more able to sift through criticism objectively, disregarding the bad while keeping the good. They also understand the truth that just because someone disagrees with them does not mean that the person dislikes them. It just means they have differing opinions, both of which could be right. These beliefs and the actions and attitudes that go with them endear the confident person to others, which in turn strengthens confident feelings.

What is the antidote to this inborn feeling of inadequacy? How does one fight against it? I asked myself these questions one morning as the weight of negative feelings threatened to drown me in self-pity and helplessness.

The answer came to me as I considered the men and women from the Bible stories that I had learned since childhood. Many of the most familiar ones had insecurity issues, but the way they handled their weaknesses was the difference in how their lives turned out.

Those who refused to acknowledge God as the supreme ruler and sovereign God of the universe took the spiral downward and ended up in ruin. Those who chose to bring their insecurities to God and trust Him to take control of their lives were able to rest in a peace that was beyond their own ability.

In the next few days I would like to look at some of these Bible characters more closely. All Scripture is given by God to help us learn about Him and about ourselves. So why not grow past our own weaknesses by studying some of these well known characters. You are who you are because God created you, but what you do with who you are will make all the difference in the outcome of your life.

Psalm 119:9 “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.”

Living in a world of sin, it is hard to keep the mind clean and pure. No matter where one goes he or she will be bombarded by images, thought patterns, and music that pull in the direction of ungodliness. Even walking innocently through the grocery store one’s eyes will be assaulted by unsavory magazines that line the racks by the checkout. What is a guy or gal to do?

This is not a new problem. Even as far back as Bible times there were constant temptations lurking in the dark shadows or maybe even in the broad daylight. Any unsuspecting victim could be pulled into the lair of evil if he was not careful. The Psalmist must have felt this subtle pull because he asked the same question. “How can a young man keep his way pure?” In the very next phrase he answered his own inquiry. “By keeping it according to Your word.”

Nothing has changed. The problem and the answer are still the same. Obedience to God’s word is the key to living a life that is pleasing to God – a life that is unstained from the wickedness that we encounter every day.

Fast forward a thousand years and another man gave instructions to his son in the faith about living above the shameful conditions of an ungodly generation. The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy some guidelines that would serve him and us well.

Consider Paul’s instructions in 2 Timothy 2:14-26.

1. Don’t wrangle over words – False teachers like to cause divisions by starting confusing conversations that produce arguments. Fighting over unimportant details is useless and can lead to the ruin of the hearers.

2. Accurately handle the Word of Truth – Study God’s word carefully and prayerfully to understand what it is that God requires of you. Make it your goal to please God and not men.

3. Avoid worldly and empty chatter – Don’t get involved in conversations that are worthless and foolish. This type of babble and gossip will only lead to ungodliness. By participating in this type of talk some have even turned away from the truth.

4. Flee from youthful lusts – Don’t stick around if you feel the pull of temptations such as pornography, pride, impatience, greed, etc. Turn and run the other direction. Instead pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace.

5. Refuse foolish and ignorant speculations – Don’t get into deep debates about things non-essential to the faith. This will only produce quarrels. God’s servants should not be quarrelsome, but instead be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, and gentle when correcting those who are held captive by Satan’s schemes.

How can a young guy or gal keep his/her way pure? The answer is in the same place it has always been for thousands of years. Read God’s word carefully, handle it correctly, and obey it consistently.

And by the way, when you are in the grocery store, don’t loiter by the magazine racks.

The other day I was conducting an open house for a property we are going to sell at auction. I noticed that the house was surrounded by a natural fence of trees and foliage. I didn’t think much about it until a neighbor stopped by and commented how this house did not used to be so enclosed by greenery. “It seemed to grow up overnight,” he said.

I started looking closer at the tree-like growth in the backyard and realized it was actually bamboo stalks. Something clicked in my brain as I remembered things I had heard about bamboo. Though it has many uses there are also some down sides to it. It is often used to produce a fast growing natural privacy fence separating properties because it grows so quickly. It grows by sending out roots, or rhizomes, in all directions which in turn sprout new plants. Sometimes growth can measure 4 feet in 24 hours.

Bamboo may seem to be a quick fix for privacy issues, but it can also cause devastating results if it is not kept under control. Its roots must be continually cut back to keep it from spreading to undesirable areas and taking over the entire area. The rhizomes may damage sprinkler systems and sprinkler heads. They can also ruin swimming pools, house foundations, and retaining walls since they can even penetrate concrete.

Sin is the same way. When you let a small sin take root in your heart the devil gains a foothold. The sin quickly begins to grow and put out roots that multiply and cause terrible damage. Soon the evil one has developed a stronghold that is not easily broken.

Is there any hope for a yard bombarded by bamboo? Yes, there is, but it is not an easy fix. First, you must dig up the clump, removing as many of the roots as possible. But this is not enough. You then must diligently spray any new shoots that emerge with the strongest herbicide you can find. If you give up too soon, the plant will return in full fury. It could take from 2-3 years to fully abolish the infringing plant.

Satan’s strongholds can also be abolished. Second Corinthians 10:3-5 says, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” When we humble ourselves before God, submit to Him, and resist the devil, our enemy will flee. As with bamboo, breaking down strongholds may take a while, but God has the power to fight for us if we allow Him to.

Bamboo can be a useful plant. But left unchecked and allowed to grow without boundaries, it can prove to be a noxious enemy. Remember, DO NOT plant bamboo in your yard without sufficient knowledge of how to maintain it properly, and DO NOT allow sin to take root in your heart. And if spiritual bamboo has taken over your life, there is hope – God has promised that He can, and will, bring the rogue stand under control. Will you allow Him to help you?

Jeremiah 2:13 “For my people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water.”

Why do dogs drink out of puddles? I mean, seriously, there is a bowl of fresh, clean water readily available at all times. Yet every time I let Cherokee out after a storm she runs right to the nearest low spot and laps at the muddy rain water that has collected there.

I wish I could cup her furry, black face in my hands, look into her trusting eyes, and explain all the reasons why lapping from these unclean collections of precipitation is dangerous. I would lecture on the fact that bacteria live within the murky waters. I would warn her of the rampant leptospirosis disease she could catch, causing sickness or even death. I would caution! I would warn! I would beg! But I know it wouldn’t do any good.

For some reason dogs are drawn to that which isn’t always healthy. This habit is hard for us to understand because drinking dirty water is something humans would never purposefully do – or would we?

Jesus calls Himself the Fountain of Living Waters. He offers Himself to all who are thirsty, promising that the pure, clean water of His life and salvation will quench every soul thirst. This fountain will become a well of water springing up to eternal life. Yet, just like the children of Israel, we tend to forsake this fresh and clean source of refreshment and dig for ourselves broken cisterns that leak.

The woman at the well (John 4) is an example of someone who was trying to meet her inner thirst from the wrong source. When she met Jesus he confronted her with her five husbands and recent live-in lover who was not her husband. He pointed out that she was looking for love and acceptance in all the wrong places. In doing so she was drinking from a dangerous mud puddle that could never quench her thirsty soul.

This generation is not any different. There are thousands of dehydrated individuals trying to fulfill their cravings with pornography, unhealthy relationships, dangerous habits, and ensnaring addictions. But instead of satisfying their rampant thirsts, they are left with a parched soul and ever growing lust for more.

Just like bacteria living in a cesspool of stagnant water can bring disease to the body, so these unhealthy lifestyle choices can bring disease to the mind and soul of each one who insists on drinking from them. Some of the results are a loss of self-respect, the burden of crippling guilt, and often the death of precious relationships.

Why do people drink out of puddles? Because they have forsaken the Lord, the Fountain of Living Waters, and have made themselves broken cisterns that never satisfy.

I am probably never going to be able to convince Cherokee to stay away from mud puddles (Oh, dear, there she goes again!). But I fiercely caution you! I vehemently warn you! I passionately beg you! Stay away from the poisonous choices that the world proposes.

Don’t drink from the puddles. Choose the living water that Jesus Christ has to offer. If you do, you will never thirst again.

Psalm 34:8 “O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”

My favorite time of the day is early in the morning before the sun has risen. I tiptoe downstairs, put the kettle on to boil and light my pear candle. When the kettle boils I make a pot of tea and sit down to spend some time with God. Some of my sweetest times have been in those moments before anyone else is awake. I tell Him all my concerns and soak in encouragement from His Word. I have wrestled with difficulties and rejoiced in answered prayer. I have had a taste of who the Lord is. I know He is good and nothing else satisfies.

God desires fellowship with all His children, but from the beginning the serpent has tempted us with another source of nourishment. God had given Adam & Eve all of the fruit in the Garden of Eden except for the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. This one they were not allowed to eat. Satan, disguised as a serpent, tempted Eve. He convinced her that God was inappropriately keeping the forbidden fruit from her. She relented and ate of what God had banned. After giving some to Adam, they both immediately experienced a hunger for the way things used to be in their relationship with God.

Satan has the same agenda today. He would love to fill our time with other things – sometimes even good things – that will keep us away from time spent with God. He tries to convince us that God is not good and that He is holding back on us. The world’s siren song draws us to harmful actions, relationships, and attitudes that look tasty but leave a poison in our soul.

Don’t be fooled by the world’s smorgasbord. Those who take refuge in God will experience blessing beyond compare. Come! Have a cup of tea with me. Taste and see that the Lord is good!

Philippians 4:9 “The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

A hundred conversations would play out in my head – not my conversations but other people’s conversations. I could hear every word that they were saying about me even before they were spoken. The pressure to perform was tremendous because there was so much at stake – my reputation!

Regularly negative conversations used to run through my mind. Every encounter with an individual caused me to replay each word I had said. I was always analyzing every look and reaction to see if it meant this person didn’t like me or I had offended them in some way.

This is a very stressful way to live, but many people live this way every day. A day can rise or fall on an encouraging compliment or a critical word. The unfortunate thing is that it may take numerous commendations to overcome one negative critique. These thought patterns are very damaging to ourselves and to our relationships.

How can someone with these tendencies conquer their bad habit? Paul gives us an answer in Philippians. He tells us to focus our minds on the right things. “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”

Paul had real life experience with adversity and he encouraged his brothers in Christ to practice the things that they had heard him teach and seen him incorporate into his own life. He assured them that if they did, the God of Peace would be with them.

When we put thoughts into another person’s mind we are not being fair to the other person or ourselves. We have just conjured up a circumstance that may not be true at all. These distorted conversations create false hurt in us and many times unwarranted bitterness towards the other person.

I learned to deal with these crippling mind conversations by replacing them immediately with a more upbeat outlook. What I considered a sharp word from a peer turned from, “They are not nice” to “They are having a bad day.” “They ignored me,” became “They are busy and preoccupied.” “You are not wanted,” was replaced with God’s words, “I have chosen you.”

As I swapped negative conversations with positive ones I began to experience God’s peace in all situations and the truth set me free. When it comes right down to it no one really knows what someone else is thinking, so why not dwell on whatever is true, lovely or worthy of praise. So never mind damaging mind conversations. Replace them with accuracy because a truthful heart is a peaceful heart.